NCCo to host second-annual Minority Business Forum on Feb. 20

Friday

Feb 7, 2014 at 1:09 PM

New Castle County government officials will host a Minority Business Forum on Feb. 20 to provide minority-owned businesses with insight on how to become a registered vendor capable of bidding on county contracts.

By Scott Gossscott.goss@doverpost.com@MiddletownScott

New Castle County government officials will host a Minority Business Forum on Feb. 20 to provide minority-owned businesses with insight on how to become a registered vendor capable of bidding on county contracts.

"Millions of dollars are going to out-of-state contractors and we cannot allow that to continue," said County Executive Tom Gordon, who will host the forum with County Council President Christopher Bullock. "That is a long-term recipe for disaster. We must give back to the New Castle County businesses that pay their fair share of taxes."

The forum is being coordinated by the New Castle County Department of Administration, which overseas procurement of services.

"This forum will provide an opportunity for minority-owned businesses to participate in the overall mission of County Executive Time Gordon's vision for economic inclusion in New Castle County," Bullock said.

Space is limited and vendors are asked to RSVP by emailing minoritybusinessforum@nccde.org by Feb. 13.

The forum will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the James Gilliam Community Services Building at 77 Reads Way in New Castle.

Registration will be held from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Minority-owned businesses are defined as those owned by African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Pacific Americans and Subcontinent Asian Americans, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.